Bolt for milk-cans



(No Model.)

N. P. BUTTER. BOLT POR MILK GANS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHANIEL I. BUTTER, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOLT FOR MILK-CANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,982, dated October 4, 1892.

Application filed May 20, 1892. Serial No. 433,647. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL P. RUTTEE, of W'altham, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safeguard- Locks for Cans and other Vessels, of which the following is a full specification.

Myinventon relates lo safeguard-locks for holding and retaining milk-cans which are de posited at the doors of customers by milk-sellers, who leave the cans during the night outside the doors, and the same is constructed as hereinafter set forth in detail.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l shows in perspective my improved safeguard-lock attached in position. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the mechanism locking the can holder or guard when in position.

A is a door, such as an ordinary entrancedoor to house.

B is a door-post.

Cis a plate provided with a groove or chan` nel and locking mechanism, in which and by which the can-holder runs and is locked.

D is the can holder or guard.

c2 c2 are screws by which the plate C is attached to the door or door-post.

c is a pawl which engages with teeth d on the upper edge of the can holder or guard.

c is a spring bearing upon the upper side of the pawl c.

It is a matter of common experience with milk-sellers that in leaving cans of milk on the outside of doors the milk-cans are often stolen.

The purpose and object of my improved invention is to provide a suitable safeguardlock, so that a milk-seller can easily lock a can by its handle or a similar attachment at a certain point near the door, so that the can cannot be removed from its position until the door is opened.

The method of operation is as follows: An ordinary milk-can provided with a handle, such as is shown by the dotted lines of Fig. 2, is attached by its handle to the guard D by inserting the handle of the can under the arm of the guard D, while it is hanging by a chain, as shown in Fig. 1, as the entrance under the arm of the guard is made of such a size as to permit the handle of the can to be inserted or removed only when the guard is out of the plate C. This guard with the can attached is then inserted in the channel of the plate C, as the teeth of the guard readily slide by the ratchet c toward the door, but cannot be slid backward out of the channel as the teeth lock with the ratchet c when an attempt is made to move it back. After the can is thus locked in position it cannot be removed from the guard D until the door A is opened, when the guard D is slid toward the door or post completely through the channel of the plate O, when the can is removed and the guard is left hanging in position ready for the next can. The plate. and the guard I preferably make of some metal. It will be noticed, also, that the guard D, when lockedin position in the channel of the plate C, covers the heads of the screwsc2 c2, so that the plate cannot be removed by withdrawing the screws. The plate O may be placed on the door as well as on the door-post. When on the door, the end of it abuts against the door-post when the door is shut.

It is obvious'that other devices may be used other than a door to close the end of the groove of the plate O-as, for instance, a piece of any sort, which is locked in place by the owner of the can.

I claim- A milk-can safeguard-lock consisting of a plate having therein a channel and a pawl and ratchet, in combination with a lockingguard and a door or groove closing device substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

NATHANIEL P. BUTTER.

Witnesses:

WM. B. H. DowsE, L. A. JOHNSON. 

